At least 87 individuals have been confirmed dead following the sinking of a ferry on Lake Kivu in eastern Congo.
The vessel, which departed from Minova in South Kivu, capsized near Kituku port, on the outskirts of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. According to a provincial report addressed to the central government in Kinshasa, 78 people remain missing.
The 87 bodies recovered have been transferred to the general hospital in Goma, while 9 survivors are receiving medical care. The exact number of passengers aboard the ferry is yet to be determined.
Port authorities at Kituku stated that the vessel encountered a violent wave ~700 meters (~2300 ft) from shore, leading to its capsizing.
The ferry accident has drawn concerned crowds to Kituku port, anxiously awaiting news of missing loved ones.
The incident comes amid ongoing hostilities between armed groups and the military, which have disrupted road travel between Goma and Minova. Accidents on Lake Kivu are common, often attributed to adverse weather conditions and overloading.